North Korea has reportedly sent an additional 1,000 to 3,000 troops to Russia between January and February, marking its second large-scale deployment since October last year.
As Russia continues its high-casualty “meat grinder” tactics to retake its occupied territory in Kursk, military analysts suggest that a third deployment could soon be decided.
On February 26, multiple sources familiar with the matter confirmed that North Korean troops were transported to the Kursk frontline via Russian cargo ships and military aircraft over the past two months. “Unlike the first deployment, this time, mechanized infantry, combat engineers, and electronic reconnaissance units were also included,” a source revealed.
During the same period, satellite imagery and reports from media outlets indicated increased air and maritime traffic between North Korea and Russia. Intelligence agencies had been closely monitoring these movements.
Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR) previously reported that around 11,000 North Korean troops were deployed to Kursk in the first wave last year, with over 4,000 either killed or wounded. Given standard military doctrine, which considers combat units inoperable after losing 20 to 30% of their personnel, analysts suggest that North Korea was compelled to send reinforcements as its first-deployed forces became unsustainable.
Unprepared North Korean Troops Suffering Heavy Losses
Amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations accelerated by the Trump administration’s second term, some speculate that Russia has increased its demands for additional manpower from North Korea.
Moscow aims to reclaim Kursk before any peace settlement is reached. Pyongyang, in turn, likely sees additional troop deployments as a way to solidify its stake in post-war negotiations and secure greater concessions from Russia.
However, questions remain about the effectiveness of this latest deployment. Unlike the first wave, where North Korean troops underwent weeks of training in Russia’s Far East before being sent to the battlefield, this second deployment appears to have skipped preparatory stages, sending troops directly into combat.
This lack of preparation is evident in recent battlefield developments. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on February 7 that “Russia has redeployed North Korean forces to the Kursk front,” adding that “hundreds of Russian and North Korean soldiers have been killed.”
Observers note that the timing of this announcement suggests North Korean troops suffered casualties almost immediately after being reintroduced to combat. Reports indicate that North Korean units are struggling with poor coordination and a lack of artillery support from Russian forces.
North Korea’s addition of mechanized infantry and electronic reconnaissance troops in this deployment suggests an attempt to address vulnerabilities in open-field combat and drone warfare. However, military experts caution that unless Russia provides adequate weaponry and firepower, North Korean troops will continue to serve as little more than cannon fodder, sustaining heavy losses.
Growing Tensions Between North Korean and Russian Forces
Reports of friction between North Korean and Russian forces continue to emerge. Videos mocking North Korean troops have circulated widely among Russian soldiers, and complaints about insufficient artillery support have fueled resentment within North Korean ranks.
Despite this, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears undeterred, focusing instead on securing economic and military benefits from Russia. As such, concerns are growing that a third deployment could soon follow.
Oh Kyung-seop, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, remarked, “North Korea is pouring troops into a war of attrition where they have no strategic impact, simply to gain economic and military concessions. It’s only a matter of time before Kim Jong-un signs off on a third deployment.”
BY YEONGGYO CHUNG, YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
